Our Snicker salad recipe is quick and easy with only a handful of ingredients; apples, pudding mix, milk, frozen whipped topping, and chopped up Snicker bars. 

Super simple salad recipe made with fresh apples and candy bars is naturally gluten free making it perfect for potlucks and picnics. 

SNICKERS APPLE SALAD

A candy bar apple salad can be used as a dessert, side dish, or snack.  I serve it as a dessert. 

The pudding, candy bars, and whipped topping add a ton of sugar.  I believe sugary sweets are best left for the end of a meal or a snack but it is perfectly fine to set it out with side salads at potlucks and picnics. 

Green or Red Apples

There seem to be at least a dozen apple varieties available in stores these days.  Each with their own little apple flavor profile. 

My favorite apple for eating out of hand is the Fuji apple.  Since this is the apple I am likely to have on hand, at least half of the apples in my salad are Fuji. 

They are a bit sweet and using all Fuji or another sweet apple can make this recipe too sweet to serve as a side dish..

I find it best to add at least one or two Granny Smith or other tart apples to the salad.  This will help balance out a bit of the sweetness.

Prevent Apples from Browning

Cut apples, when exposed to air, will start to brown almost immediately.

Usually, when making recipes with cut up apples I coat the cut apples with lemon juice or diluted vinegar water to prevent browning. 

I don’t like the added acid in this particular recipe so I find the easiest way to keep the apples from browning is to mix all of the other ingredients in a bowl and add the apples as I cut them and mix well to prevent air from getting to the apples.

How to Prevent Clumps in Apple Salad

The best way to make this salad is to mix the pudding and the milk first and whisking to make sure that there are no little pockets of dried pudding mix.

Since it’s instant pudding and we are using less milk than called for on the package, it is going to start setting up pretty quick.  Once that happens it will form big globs when you try to add the whipped topping.

Don’t give the pudding time to start setting up, get the whipped topping in there fairly quickly. 

If clumps or globs do form, whip the mixture well with the whisk or use a hand mixer to get them out.

Chopping the Candy Bars

You don’t have to freeze or even refrigerate the candy bars. 

I can be a little lazy in the kitchen and patience is not my best virtue.  Freezing or refrigerating the candy beforehand requires extra time.

I think that it is easier to use a sharp knife and cut the candy bars in half and then slice them into small pieces.

The Snickers can be frozen and then shattered into pieces. 

To do this, unwrap the candy bars first and put them into a plastic bag prior to freezing.  Allow the candy to freeze at least 4 hours.

Once the candy is frozen solid, hit them with a meat mallet or a rolling pin.  A word of caution, do not do this on granite or other stone surfaces, it could crack.  

Cracking the granite in the kitchen might result in an unpleasant conversation with the spouse, at least in this house.

Using Different Kinds of Candy Bars

I have had success with this recipe while using Butterfingers, Baby Ruth, and turtle.  Snickers remain my favorite though.

I would not recommend you use anything that will simply melt and disappear like a plain chocolate bar.  M & M’s would be a no go for me.  The candy coating will dissolve in the salad just like it does on wet hands, leaving you with rainbow streaks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I substitute whipped topping with homemade whipped cream?

Absolutely!   

Making homemade whipped cream is actually pretty easy.

For Snickers salad, you will need 3 cups of heavy whipping cream, 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Beat the whipping cream until soft peaks start to form.  With the beaters running, gradually add the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.  Add the vanilla and beat until vanilla is fully incorporated.

Can I Make Snickers Salad Ahead of Time?

Snicker Salad can be made in advance and even the night before it’s needed. 

I actually think it tastes better after letting it sit for at least 4 hours.  It gives the caramel in the snickers some time to start melding into the rest of the salad.

How Do I Store Snickers Apple Salad?

Snicker salad, stored in a covered container, will last in the refrigerator for 3 to 4.  After 4 days it will start to separate and all of the chocolate and caramel from the Snickers will have long melted into the pudding and whipped topping.  

MORE DROOL WORTHY FRUIT RECIPES

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Oat-Free Apple Crisp

Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Yield: 18 Cups

Snickers Salad

Print

Super simple apple salad made with vanilla pudding and candy bar bits.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 5.1-ounce package of vanilla instant pudding
• 1 1/2 cup of milk
• 16 ounces whipped topping, thawed
• 6 cups diced apples, 3 to 4 large apples
• 6 full-size Snickers bars

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding and stir until well blended.
2. Add the thawed whipped topping.
3. Peel and core the apples then cut into bite-size piece.
4. Add apples to the pudding mixture and stir to completely cover all the apples.
5. Slice Snickers into bite-sized pieces.
6. Set a handful of Snickers aside. Mix the remaining candy car pieces into the apple salad.
7. Cover the apple salad and place into the refrigerator until ready to serve.
8. Sprinkle remaining Snickers over the salad just before serving.

Notes

Apple skins can be left on.

Whipped topping can be substituted with homemade whipped cream.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 237 Total Fat: 10.9g Saturated Fat: 5.4g Cholesterol: 22mg Sodium: 206mg Carbohydrates: 33.6g Fiber: 2.1g Sugar: 26.7g Protein: 3g

Nutritional data varies by nutritional calculator used. All data provided is an estimate. If nutritional data is critical to a specific diet, please verify all information independently.

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